Cap table 101 | section 1

Introducing the cap table

As a founder, understanding your cap table is crucial to managing your company’s equity and planning for future growth. In this section, we dive into the world of cap tables—how they work, types of equity offered, calculating ownership percentages, valuations, vesting schedules, and more.

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3 sections • 13 videos • 1h 21m total length

Section 1: Introducing the cap table

Dive into the world of cap tables—how they work, types of equity offered, calculating ownership percentages, valuations, vesting schedules, and more.

Chapter 1: What’s a cap table?	02.30
Chapter 2: Incorporating, and creating your first cap table	06.50
Chapter 3: Common vs. preferred shares	05.52
Chapter 4: How convertible notes work	06.33
Chapter 5: How SAFEs work	04.04
Chapter 6: Stock options, strike prices, and vesting schedules	09.10
Chapter 7: Valuations and fair market values	03.59

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Section 2: Building the foundation that leads to success

Ready to create your first cap table? Begin the journey of a fictional company as we build a cap table from scratch, bring in an advisor, raise early funding rounds, and hire our first employees.

Chapter 1: The seed round	11.34
Chapter 2: The Series A, and your first valuation	07.49
Chapter 3: Options pools, dilution, and converting the SAFE	06.18
Chapter 4: What’s a valuation cap?	05.10

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Section 3: The Series B (and beyond)

We’re upping the ante in Section 3 as we raise another funding round to scale our fictional company. We’ll also see how our cap table comes into play when the company sells, goes public, or has a liquidity event.

Chapter 1: The Series B	09.28
Chapter 2: Course recap	01.37

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Download our cap table template

Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Download Carta’s free cap table template, and create your first cap table today.

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